Tire of vehicles.



E. KNOWLES.

TIRE OF VEHICLES.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

awww f viinwnv KNoivLEsforreci/mance',nnonristiunt TIRE-or vnnIcLs.

inap. 916,134.1 i

. specification of Lttrs'ratent. Patented Jan.f19,.1eoe..

'if ppiicaaon and Jun@ ,'24, 1907. serial' No. 380,441.'-

'Be Aitt-known that 1 ,.EDWIN KNoivLEs, a

i citizen ofthe-United States,.residing at the ctyf,off"P1{ovidence, in the county off Providence "zmd'Stateof Rhode Island, have inventedcertain new andv` useful Improve.-

`i-'mentsin Tires for Vehicles, of `Whichthe .fol-lowingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to tires for vehicle wheels and has for its object to provide a resilient tire that will be flexible and yielding in its action while running on the road and possess practically all of the desirable effects and advantages of a pneumatic tire Without the extreme disadvantage of being vso easily injured and destroyed. i

Automobilists and others are only too well aware of the eXtreme unreliability of pneumatic tires owing to their rapid deterioration, blowouts, punctures, etc., all of which faults and troubles my present invention is designed to f'ully overcome, and provide in its place a flexible tire that will give the desired resiliency and at lthe'same time withstand the wear and tear a tire of this nature is subjected to.

In carrying out my invention I have provided a tire having a single resilient band constructed of a continuous rim of wood, fiber, steel, or other suitable material, said band being supported at intervals by auxiliarysprings or other suitable supporting means.

Another feature of my invention'` is that in addition to the said single outer ring I' have also proyided a second continuous band within the first which inner band is designed to. support the outer band through suitable spring blocks, or other suitable supports, the inner band being supported from therrim of the wheel. I do not, however, 'confine myself to the use lof a single resilient outer ring or tire any desired number ofsuch spaced apart concentric bands may be used one within the other without departing from the spirit and scope of miy invention.

The invention is illy set forth in this specification and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Ih the accompanying drawings: Fi ure 1- is a side elevation of a vehicle w eel on which is mounted my improved resilient tire. Fig. 2-is a sectionallelevation through the rim of the same on Aline 2-2 of Fi 1. Fig. 3-is a detail showing a small sectlon ofSthe concentric resilient rings arid the supporting blocks of which the tire is constructed. i

Referring to the `drawings at `l is thehub of the Wheel and 2 the inner riinrthereof, which is supported from said hub by a plurality of spokes 8. This portion of the wheel may be constructed-in any convenient kor desirable manner, said inner rim 9. being sulficiently heavy to support the load without yielding. I- y L My invention consists essentially of a resilient band or tire -f which may be vconstructed of wood, fiber, orv any other suitable material, but I preferably construct the same of spring. or resilient metal which is designed to give and yield as it rolls along the road, to absorb the shock and jars at the initial point of impact. Within this outer band is shown a second ring or band 5 spaced apart from thesaid outer ring and Aconcentric therewith This ring like the outer ring is also made of a resilient or flexible material, preferably of spring steel. Hthin this second ring is also shown a third ring 6 spaced apart and concentric therewith. This inner ring may be of flexible material, if desired, but it is not necessary as said ring is not called upon to perform the function of the first two rings, as it fits closely on and is secured to the inner rim 2 of the wheel. This outer resilient band or ring 4 is shown as being supported on the inner resilient ring 5 by means ofthe auxiliary sprin's 7 7, but as the secondl ring is also of flexible material yielding blocks of rubber, or the like, or even solid blocks, may be inserted in place thereof and yet produce substantially the same effect. The same 'is true of the blocks 8 8 which are inserted between the inner ring 6 and the resilient ring 5. These blocks may be of any yielding or non-yielding material or they may be of springs if desired, and placed as close together asis found necessary in the practical construction and operation of the wheel.

In the drawing I'have shown the supporting blocks and springs 7 and 8 disposed alternately and at close intervals around the tire, but I do not confine myself to this arrangement of supports as the blocks and springs may be arranged as close together as desired to best support the same.

Another feature ofmy invention is that the inner resilient rino' 5 is shown as being supported by a flatreinforcing spring 9 beneath the 'point where they support the outer ring through the spring 7, but any kind ofv a supporting spring or yielding material may l, be emplo ed at these points to reinforce or support oth the inner and 'outer rings if desired. As a further support for the outer resilient ring I have shown the flat or leaf spring 10 secured to the inside .ofsaid outer ring between its spring supports 7 7, but any other desired lnemis may be provided for stiiening orsupporting the rim at these points between the said supports 7 7.

In practice the youter resilient metal rim 4 may come in direct contact with the road, if desired, but I have herein shown an outer covering or shoe 11 which may be constructed of wood, fiber, or any other suitable material but rubber is preferably employed to receive the initial'shock and so protect to some extent the metal rim if desired.

' My invention is of a comparatively simple I and practical construction and is very eiiclent 1n its operation:

Having thus described my invention, what I claim .as new and desire to secure by Letters Paten-t, is: y

An improvement in tires comprising an inner rigld rim, a second resilient rim encircling the same, blocks interposed between said rims, reinforcing strips for said resilient rim located between said blocks, an outer resilient rim encircling said 'second' rim, elliptical springs interposed between said outer and said second rims and bearing against the reinforcing portions of said second rim, said springs and blocks being in staggered relation,v resilient reinforcing strips for the outer rim interposed between said' springs,l and an elastic body secured to the exterior of said'outer rim.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` EDWIN KNOVVLES. vilitnejsses.:

HOWARD E. BARLOW, E. I. OGDEN. 

